The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-01
General Assembly Notes.
Sr- Louis May %.

General Assembly Notes.
Sr. LOUIS, May %, 1887.
DEAR CLARION Presuming that few
notes relating to the General Assembly OF
the Presbyterian Church, now in session
in this city, will be acceptable TO many OF
of your readers, they are accordingly sub
mitted
The Assembly convened in Grand Ave
nue. Presbyterian Church last Thursday
morning The thirteen Synods, embracing
sixty nine Presbyteries, were represented
by II clerical and "a lay commissioners
there being very few absentees. Those
present from the Synod of Mississippi are
Revs. B. NJ. Palmer, j. H. Alexander, NJ.
B. Shaw, J. 5. Shaw, Cyrus Harrington,
G. T. Storey, Elders Edwin II. Fay, Jas.
q. Spencer, T. J. Mcmillan, Robert II.
Lindsey, james H. Neville, J. L. Power.
and Elders w. c. Mclean and I. j. Craw-
ford are also present from the Presbyteries
OF North Mississippi and Chickasaw, In
the Synod of Memphis. =
After a sermon by the retiring Modera-
tor, Rev. DIR. J. II. Bryson. the Assembly
proceeded to the election of a Moderator
DIR. G. B. Stricken. of Atlanta, DIR. L. H..
Rutherford, and DR.. Jno. 5. Moore, OF
Texas, were placed in nomination. DR..
Stricken was elected, and he makes an
admirable presiding officer. Rev. G. L:
Storey and Rev. J as 2. Smith were elected
| Reading Clerks.
There was no session Thursday after
noon. On Thursday night, the ladies OF
| Grand Avenue Church gave reception"
to the Commissioners, which was an ex-
| ceedingly pleasant occasion. Refreshments
were served in the Sunday-School room.
| The Standing Committees were an
nounced Friday morning Also Special
| Committee of 26-two from each Synod
to consider all overtures and papers touch
| ing organic union, cooperative union and
| other relations with the Northern Assem-
bly,. This is the most important Commit
tee OF the Assembly. The Committee were
In session two days, and agreed to dis
| agree-16 in favor OF the appointment OF
of committee to confer, and 10 opposed
| to any action whatever. The separate re
ports were submitted this morning, and
made the special order for half-past ter
O'Clock tomorrow morning. The majority
report is as follows:
Tie majority of your Special Committee
to whom was referred all overtures anC
| papers IOuCDlUS Ano subl6St u VI e-AAN
| co-operatiye union, and all other relations
with the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America, respectfully re
port as follows:
| Whereas, the Synods of Missouri, Arkan
sas and Alabama, embracing fifteen Pres
byteries, have taken action favoring re
union Of some kind between the TIVE
churches and whereas, subsequent thereto
/ d.
Upper Missouri, Chesapeake, Missouri
Holster, Indian, East Alabama and Dallas
have manifested special interest IN thu
matter by resolutions or overtures tavorln!
closer relations between the two churches
while from only FIVE Presbyteries hav
come any expression of dissent and the.
chiefly against organic union; therefore
YOUR Committee recommend that Com
! mittee of five ministers and hive ruins
elders, with the Moderator OF this Assem-
bly, added thereto as ex-othclo charm an
/, be appointed by the present Moderator o
this Assembly, to confer with any Tx
committee that the other Assembly ma
appoint, concerning the whole subject Q
organic union, cooperative union, an
any other relation between the two Assem-
blies and said committee be directed I
report the result of their Joint conferenc
to the General Assembly at its meeting
May, 1858, for approval or disapprova
And that the committee be instructed t
: take and maintain the following position
/. The mere acceptance OF the commo
1 standard of our church-the Confession {
Faith, Shorter and Larger Catechisms-
does not. in our minds, form a sutficier
2 basis of union but the acceptance OF tina
peculiar Interpretation of our standar
: which affirms and emphas yes the purel
I spiritual nature of Christ's Kingdom, an
forbids her legislating upon political an
civil matters, is the only true basis {
union.
: 2. And further, we insist that the colore
brethren within our bounds shall be oil
ganized into separate congregations, Pres
byteries and Synods. Signed Ministers
w. f. V. Bartlett, J. Nj. p. Otis, L. N
Lowry, S. G. Caldwell, j. S. Van Metel
Jas. A. Wallace, W. II. Crane. Ruin
Elders-A. S. Fletcher, j. S. McGhee, I
/ G. Buckner, N Hart, A. NJ. McPheeter
; Geo. G.. O'Bryan, A. W. Dinsmore, i.
Livingston, j. l.. Power.
Rev. DIR. Smoot, for the Minority Con
J mittee, submit ted a report, signed by him
self and eight others setting forth that tn
difficulties in the way of organic union ar
numerous ana OIL 50 seIlouS d HdbuAO INT
, cannot be removed, and that any turtle
discussion can only perpetuate strife an
: alienation, and hinder the progress
weaken the efficiency and endanger tn
unity of our own church. This was slgne
! by Revs. r. K. Smoot, NJ. b. Shaw, W. d
Davis, j. G.. Richards, G. K. Vaughan, III
ders T. J. Crawford, G.. l.. Riddle, Wn
, | Withrow, q. l.. Arbuckle.
Rev. w. II. Parks also submitted an in
dividual minority report, substantial
agreeing with DIR. Smoot and others.
These papers were listened to with pro
found interest and were ordered printed.
/ Fraternal messages have been receive,
from the general assembly at Omaha, an,
have been appropriately responded to.
A report, submitted by DIR. Palmer, a
7 chairman, was adopted, providing fol
Joint centennial celebration il
: Philadelphia, in May, 1888. A COMMITTEES
of seven was appointed to cooperate with
like committee of the Northern Assembly
to make all necessary arrangements. You
correspondent was complimented by APP
J pointment on this important committee.
The indications are that the next session
} of the General Assembly will be held il
J Baltimore, and will proceed from there t
Philadelahia so as TO participate in tn,
centennial celebration.
The commissioners are ali pleasantly To-
cated-it being my good fortune to be il
the delightful home OF Mr.. T. S. MePhee
tiers, Delmar Avenue.
| The Assembly will not adjourn befor,
Saturday. p.